February 3rd is National Golden Retriever Day!
Who doesn't love a Golden Retriever?
Early in our dog life as a couple, my husband and I brought home a 3 year old Golden from our local SPCA. Her name was Sandy, and she had already been brought back to the shelter twice. Sandy was of the BIG and RED golden variety. In her prime she was close to 104 lbs. We liked to call her "big-boned." She really did not look overweight at all, but you definitely knew she was solid if she tried to sit on your lap.
Sandy lived a happy life with us and left us when she was 14.5 years old. That started us loving the breed.
Who doesn't love a Golden Retriever?
Early in our dog life as a couple, my husband and I brought home a 3 year old Golden from our local SPCA. Her name was Sandy, and she had already been brought back to the shelter twice. Sandy was of the BIG and RED golden variety. In her prime she was close to 104 lbs. We liked to call her "big-boned." She really did not look overweight at all, but you definitely knew she was solid if she tried to sit on your lap.
Sandy lived a happy life with us and left us when she was 14.5 years old. That started us loving the breed.
Sandy exploring a snow-covered trail.
We have very few photos of Sandy left, thanks to moving twice and losing two computers to hard drive crashes. She was always up for a hike somewhere, and never really left our home base, except for one time when my Aunt Helen found her coming back home from a stroll by the lake we lived near, sauntering up the road like she owned the world. Sandy quickly accepted a ride back to the house when Aunt Helen opened her car door.
Then Came Ollie
When Sandy crossed over the Bridge, we waited a bit before getting another dog. One day, I read an ad in the paper looking to rehome two Golden Retrievers. We decided to contact the advertiser, finding out that he was an over-the-road independent trucker and had two pure bred retrievers who were brothers--Ollie and Oggie. We decided to go see both of them. Since his job was keeping him away for long periods of time, he felt the brothers deserved a home where people were around more.
Someone had already come to look at Oggie, so we decided to take Ollie, who was exactly one-year old when we gave him his second home. He had been living in an elaborate kennel/garage system and not really in a house situation, but it didn't take him long to "get it" and like it. Ollie became the family greeter and caretaker of family canine member additions, and was loved by all. He is another dog that never strayed from our property. He could catch a frisbee like no dog I have ever known. For as big as he was, he was dead on with the catch, and loved the game.
Then Came Ollie
When Sandy crossed over the Bridge, we waited a bit before getting another dog. One day, I read an ad in the paper looking to rehome two Golden Retrievers. We decided to contact the advertiser, finding out that he was an over-the-road independent trucker and had two pure bred retrievers who were brothers--Ollie and Oggie. We decided to go see both of them. Since his job was keeping him away for long periods of time, he felt the brothers deserved a home where people were around more.
Someone had already come to look at Oggie, so we decided to take Ollie, who was exactly one-year old when we gave him his second home. He had been living in an elaborate kennel/garage system and not really in a house situation, but it didn't take him long to "get it" and like it. Ollie became the family greeter and caretaker of family canine member additions, and was loved by all. He is another dog that never strayed from our property. He could catch a frisbee like no dog I have ever known. For as big as he was, he was dead on with the catch, and loved the game.
Ollie acting the big brother part for newly-adopted Moe.
Ollie passed over the Bridge much too early, at the age of eight, from hemangiosarcoma of the heart. Cancer in Golden Retrievers is a very real concern.
Love of the Breed
The American Kennel Club (AKC) defines the breed as "outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please." I would have to say ALL of those things were true about the two goldens we owned.
Goldens are great family dogs and our kids grew up around the goldens.
My past history with our Golden Retrievers has been a great foundation for my photography work with the breed, and I am always excited when I receive a call from a Golden owner looking for pictures of their dog.
The Day of the Goldens
Imagine the level that excitement reached when I got the call that an owner was looking to bring not one, not two, but THREE Golden Retrievers for studio portraits!!!
One of her dogs had a recent illness diagnosis at age 13, and she wanted to be sure to have "Loving Memory" photos taken. She decided to bring all three boys at that time.
Meet Tripper, Brew and Tioga (in that order below).
Love of the Breed
The American Kennel Club (AKC) defines the breed as "outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please." I would have to say ALL of those things were true about the two goldens we owned.
Goldens are great family dogs and our kids grew up around the goldens.
My past history with our Golden Retrievers has been a great foundation for my photography work with the breed, and I am always excited when I receive a call from a Golden owner looking for pictures of their dog.
The Day of the Goldens
Imagine the level that excitement reached when I got the call that an owner was looking to bring not one, not two, but THREE Golden Retrievers for studio portraits!!!
One of her dogs had a recent illness diagnosis at age 13, and she wanted to be sure to have "Loving Memory" photos taken. She decided to bring all three boys at that time.
Meet Tripper, Brew and Tioga (in that order below).
The brothers were a joy to work with. (Click on any photo to make it larger for better viewing.)
Tioga's photo, framed in the lower right hand corner, was part of my first ever entry into International Print Competition, and it not only merited, but received Image Excellence.
These three separate head shot now grace the client's wall as metal prints.
One Final Golden
I would be remiss if I didn't include Golden Retriever puppy Wyatt in this blog. Although puppies do tend to move around a lot, he was a very good boy for his session.
As noted, there is nothing quite like a Golden Retriever, one of the most popular breeds in households today.
Tioga's photo, framed in the lower right hand corner, was part of my first ever entry into International Print Competition, and it not only merited, but received Image Excellence.
These three separate head shot now grace the client's wall as metal prints.
One Final Golden
I would be remiss if I didn't include Golden Retriever puppy Wyatt in this blog. Although puppies do tend to move around a lot, he was a very good boy for his session.
As noted, there is nothing quite like a Golden Retriever, one of the most popular breeds in households today.
Click Into the Circle
Want to see more Goldens, or thoughts about the breed? I am a member of a group of professional pet photographers from all over the planet. To see what others have written on this week's topic, start here with NH Photographer Sandra McCarthy of Sandra McCarthy Photography, as she shares a Cake Smash session for a Golden Retriever named Maple.
Then click the link at the end of each blog post until you find yourself right back here.
Have a great weekend! Enjoy!
Want to see more Goldens, or thoughts about the breed? I am a member of a group of professional pet photographers from all over the planet. To see what others have written on this week's topic, start here with NH Photographer Sandra McCarthy of Sandra McCarthy Photography, as she shares a Cake Smash session for a Golden Retriever named Maple.
Then click the link at the end of each blog post until you find yourself right back here.
Have a great weekend! Enjoy!
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